Friel's "Translations"

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses Friel's presentation of Irish culture, and particularly the loss of the Irish language, in "Translations". It critically analyzes both the language of the play and the stage directions to make an argument about the unusual way "Translations" addresses time and history.

From the Paper:

"For some characters, the even more distant past seems to live on and continue to have a part in their lives. References are made to "the day the Bastille fell" (p.47), and "the night before Waterloo" (p.47). Historical events are mentioned as casually as far away places like "Boston"(p.78), as though the past is as accessible as simply travelling to another country. This is ironic when we consider that the audience actually is looking back into the past when watching the play. Correspondingly, there is a very clear link to ancient Greece and Rome particularly given through Hugh and Jimmy, and this link to cultures already lost leads the audience to the idea that the events in Ireland are pre-determined by history, or 'doomed' as the title suggests. The concept of fate certainly adds pathos to the plight of the Irish culture."

More papers on Friel's "Translations":

• Analytical Essay # 68624 : "Brian Friel's "Translations"
• Analytical Essay # 57847 : "Language and Society in "Translations"
• Book Review # 91966 : "The National Romance"

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